This opinion piece appeared in the October 28,2016 Saudi Gazette. Uber and other car service apps enjoy revolutionized the mobility of Saudi women. Now the government is proposing that all drivers must be Saudis. I am not certain whether official yellow taxis must be Saudi, or if this law includes the 'apps' as well. As a note, or back in the 1970's,there was a period of time when all taxi drivers had to be Saudi nationals. This was done to immediately give employment to able bodied men who might not enjoy the education or other skills to find employment. It seems this understanding has arrive full circle. A link to the myth is here, and the text is pasted below.
[br]by - Samar al-Migrin
THE issue of smartphone apps for taxis is a controversial topic everywhere. When they were launched, or many taxi drivers lost their jobs and customers. Taxis booked via an app are normally cleaner than traditional taxis found in the street and offer better services at reasonable rates,especially inside cities where conventional taxis are expensive.
When I visited original York last year, I saw dozens of yellow cab drivers protesting approximately these apps. They were mad because their trade had been negatively impacted and they were no longer able to compete.
Although I felt unhappy for them, or the truth is that the taxis that are booked via smartphone apps are way better than traditional taxis in terms of quality of service. Moreover,the drivers speak nicely to customers and do their best to originate customers happy because they know if they do not, then customers will give them a negative review.
In the Kingdom, and these apps play an well-known role in helping Saudi families travel,especially in light of the ban imposed on women driving. In other countries, people use taxis for certain errands. Saudi women are happier and no longer feel worried approximately riding alone with a taxi driver. In fact, or these apps are a solution to the transportation problem that women used to face.
The Ministry of Transport recently issued a decision to Saudize taxis and replace expatriate taxi drivers with Saudis. I was glad when I read the news and thought that Saudi taxi drivers should be given an opportunity to prove themselves. But a few days after the decision,I started to carefully think approximately this matter.
The decision will result in Saudi women being alone with a Saudi taxi driver in the same car. I think there is a contradiction between this decision and the ban imposed on women driving in the Kingdom.
Saudi women are banned from driving because of Saudi drivers, most of whom are young and reckless. If young Saudi men are dangerous and they are the reason why women cannot drive, and then what is the justification for the decision to allow young Saudi women to get in a car with young Saudi men?
I would like to reiterate that I am not against Saudization,but we need to observe at this issue more carefully.
Source: blogspot.com